Megaways vs Payline Slots

Payline slots are the most common types of slot machines today. In fact, this has always been the case for a long time. To play this type of slot, players must land matching symbols on the active lines. This concept is simple and easy to grasp which is probably why it is still a favourite among casino slot sites players to date.

However, over the years, there have been an influx of alternatives to the popular paylines. These games urge players to do more as opposed to just landing wins on a line. Some of these include Mega spin slots, multi-payline slots, Megaclusters slots, Megaways slots, and many more.

However, we will be focusing on the Megaways slots which has grown to become the most popular alternative to paylines. And today, many developers have started to incorporate the Megaways format into some of their new releases.

Since we offer both options on Slots Baby, we will be doing a comparison between both to help you decide which to play.

What Are Payline Slots?

Slot games consist of three major categories which are the symbols, reels, and paylines. This means regardless of the type of slot game you are playing, it will come with a payline. A payline is a line that connects the reels. This line could begin from the leftmost part of the reel to the rightmost part. Sometimes it could follow a zig-zag or straight pattern depending on the best mobile slot games title.

Now, to win in these kinds of games, you will need to land matching symbols following one another on these lines. However, these lines begin can differ depending on the type of slot machine. The classic slots have just a few lines, with some as low as one line.

Video slots on other hand tend to come with 10 and as high as 243 lines. And even though not as common as the others, you could also find up to 1,024 lines in a slot. But this changed when the Megaways technology came into the picture.

The number of lines in a slot game may seem insignificant but they have an influence on your winning chances. For instance, more lines on a slot games means more chances of winning, and vice versa.

Pros of Payline slots

• The offer an improved hit rate
• Some payline slots like progressive jackpots offer players the possibility of winning life changing rewards. Games like Mega Moolah has paid out millions of dollars to players to date with others following behind. You can check out Slots Baby to play this progressive jackpot game and you just might be the next lucky winner.
• Tons of game options available. Most slot games have paylines and offer numerous features to make them fun.

Cons of  Payline slots

• Players are only able to bet on stated paylines which are not the same in all games.
• Not all payline slots are amazing as some have very low RTPs. This can easily be averted if players choose only games with high RTPs.

Best Payline Slots

There are many Payline slots today, and this can make it quite tricky to choose the ideal option. However, we at Slots Baby have put together some of the best options you can play for real money on our website.  Before we start explaining each in detail, check out the table for a quick overview of each game.

• Wolf Gold: This slot release from Pragmatic Play is an animal themed game. It comes with the typical 5x3 setup, alongside 25 paylines. It also offers a variety of features that make it entertaining for players.
• Mega Moolah: This is a leading progressive jackpot slot that offers players amazing chances of winning prizes running into millions. This Microgaming release is currently the largest progressive jackpot in the world and has 5 reels, and 25 fixed paylines. It is a great option for anyone especially if you are looking to win big.
• Starburst Slot: This is a space-themed game developed by NetEnt. It comes with 3 rows, 5 reels, and 10 fixed paylines. It also offers a range of features including the Starburst wilds, re-spins, expanding wilds, etc. These and the amazing graphics and display makes it one of the most popular payline slots you can try today.
• Book of Dead: Book of dead is an Egyptian-themed game from Novamatic. It comes with 3 rows, 5 reels, 10 paylines, and an above average RTP of 96.21%. You will find many Egyptian symbols alongside features like scatters, wilds, free spins, and a gamble feature.
• Gonzo’s Quest: This is yet another release from the popular developer NetEnt. It comes with 5 reels, 3 rows, and 20 paylines. The game also has a medium-high volatility and offers players amazing features including the avalanche feature, wilds, scatters, and many more.

What are Megaways Slots?

Megaways slots use the Megaways system. The come with numerous paylines but these paylines are not fixed. Instead, the number of lines is determined at random during every spin. However, it has a maximum number of lines pegged at 117,649. This is possible because the values of the reels and rows on these slots are dynamic.

The Megaways technology was created by Nik Robinson and is owned by Big Time Gaming. Robinsons focus was to create a new feature that players can get used to with ease, which brought the Megaways idea in 2015. Big Time Gaming used the Megaways system in its Dragon Born slot which was released in 2015.

Then, it incorporated the system in its Bonanza slot which became extremely popular. After this, other developers begun to purchase the Megaways technology from Big Time Gaming so they could incorporate it in their slot releases.  Now, many developers including Blueprint Gaming, NetEnt, Scientific Games among other use this feature.

How Do Megaways Slots Operate?

Like we mentioned earlier, Megaways slots come with a dynamic number of symbols, rows, and reels. These games typically begin with 6 reels and 4 symbols. But as the game proceeds with each spin, this numbers change. For instance, the first reel may have 6 symbols, while the second may have five, and other reels may have four symbols. But when you spin the reel again, the results change.

Sometimes, these symbols may cover the whole reel and because the paylines go over the symbols and rows, it creates a new path with every spin that the lines pass over. For this reason, different numbers of paylines will come up every time you spin.  However, the highest number of lines you can get on a Megaways is 117,649, but this number is not fixed since you get different numbers every time you spin.

Pros of Megaways Slots

• The 117,649 ways to win gives players to clinch massive cash prizes.
• Most Megaways slots offer amazing bonus features like wilds, free spins, multipliers, and many more.
• The layout of Megaways slots is unique, making it a great option for players who want something with a different look.

Cons of Megaways slots

• Megaways slots don’t come with progressive jackpots for now. However, it still offers a huge winning potential thanks to the numerous paylines.

Best Megaways Slots

There are numerous Megaways slots you can try out today, but here are few of the top options. Before we proceed, check out the table below for a quick overview of our top Megaways slots.

• Bonanza Megaways: This is worthy of mention since it helped popularize the Megaways slots. It was released by Big Time Gaming and remains one of the most popular Megaways slots today.
• Buffalo Rising Megaways: This is a Megaways slots from Blueprint Gaming. It comes with numerous features and up to 117,649 paylines. These alongside its huge winning potential makes it a favorite for many players.
• Queen of Riches: This is another release from Big Time gaming that goes the simpler route. Still, it offers the Megaways appeal, alongside numerous features, and an above average RTP of 96.9%.
• Gorilla Gold Megaways: Yet another release from Big Time Gaming, this slot takes things to another level by using a Power 4 Play system. With this, you can play 4 Megaways slots simultaneously for up to 470,596 Megaways!
• 8 Golden Skulls of Holly: This is a Microgaming release powered with the Megaways engine. This pirate-themed slot comes with amazing bonus features along with a 96.86% RTP.

Paylines vs. Megaways Slots – Which Option should you go with?

Both Paylines and Megaways slots come with their benefits and drawbacks. So, the option to go with really boils down to your requirements. However, if you are still not certain as to which option is right for you, have a look at the table below for a detailed comparison between both.

As you can see, both offer similar benefits, with each having its own drawbacks. Make sure you evaluate what your needs are before you choose an option. If you prefer games with a fixed payline, then its best to play a payline slot. However, if you love the idea of changing paylines, then a Megaways payline.

Slots Baby offers both Payline and Megaways slots, so you find your preferred option regardless of what it is. And if you make a minimum deposit of £10, you get access to a fantastic welcome bonus. This lets you spin the Mega Reel for a chance to win amazing prizes along with free spins on various games.

*Any Free Spins/Welcome Bonuses References are subject to the following: NEW PLAYERS ONLY, MIN DEPOSIT £10, MAX BONUS EQUAL TO LIFETIME DEPOSITS (UP TO £250), 65X WAGERING REQUIREMENTS AND FULL T&CS APPLY.

*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins etc.) mentioned in relation to this slot game are subject to change at any time.